Igniting device



J. R. AYOTTE IGNITING DEVICE Nov. 20, 1934.

Filed NOV. 24, I 1933 gjvle,

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Patented Nov. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IGNITIN G DEVICE Application November 24, 1933, serial No. 699,487

4 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to improvements in igniting devices, and more particularly, to those types of devices frequently referred to as cigar and cigarette lighters.

rThe invention has for an object to provide an igniting device comprehending a novel and advantageous casing and parts construction, and assembly, rendering the device cheap of manufacture and yet, extremely durable and dependable in operation.

It is also an object of the invention to provide the igniting device with a materally improved form of sparking or torchelement igniting means, whereby the abrading or scratching portion of such element, in an igniting operation, will be caused to positively traverse a fixed course or path of travel as it is moved longitudinally over the igniting means, hence, insuring a maximum of sparking of said igniting means, the better to -gnite the gas saturated part of the torch element, as well as preventing undesirable lateral movement or complete disengagement of the scratching portion of said element from the sparking or igniting means. r

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide an igniting device with a torch element including a novel form of holder .-therefor, in which said torch element will be securely retained and rendered capable of usage without liability of burning the ngers of a user grasping the same, the handle of the holder being so formed that it will absorb but a minimum of heat from rthe torch, when burning, and also, that it may be conveniently and satisfactorily engaged by the fingers of a user for removement or replacement' of the torch element holder prior and 1y to burning thereof. i

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by those skilled in-the art to which it appertains, I have in the accompanying drawing and the detailed description based thereupon, set out several embodiments of my invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved igniting device showing the torch and torch hold er in igniting position;

Figure 2 is a similar view wherein the torch holder is shown engaged in the casing of the device;

Figure 3 is a disassembled perspective view of the casing and the sparking material retaining trough, showing the construction of the latter subsequentshoulders formed inthe receiving portion of the casing;

Figure!!! is a longitudinal section through the device taken on the line 4;--4 of Figure 5, looking in the direction in which'the arrows point;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through the device taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 2, looking in the direction in which the arrows point;

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken onthe line 6-6 of Figure 5, looking in-the direction in which the arrows point; f

Figure 7 vis an endviewof the device showing the arrangement of the sparking material in the casing engaged trough;4r Y v Figure 8 is an end view of the casing with thek trough removed, and showing the arrangement'oi the combustible liquid absorbent material 'therein Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary detail inl longitudinal section through a portion ofthe de vice showing the arrangement' of the sparking material retaining trough in the pocketed'end of the casing;

Figure'lO is a similar view taken at substantial-- ly right angles to the Figure 9;

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail, partly in longitudinal section, of the torch employed in connec tion with the device; :Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary detail,- partly in longitudinal'section, illustrating a form of scraping vhead forscratcher element of the torch; Y

Figure 13 is a similar viewof a slightly modi- Figure 14 is an elevation of the type of device illustrated in FigurelZ, and, v

Figure 15 is a similar View of the type'of device illustrated in the Figure 13.

Having more particular reference to the drawing, in connection with which like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout, the numeral 1 designates the casing of the igniting device, cast or molded of suitable plastic material, having a wall 2 in one end thereof, the intermediate portion of which is thickened as at 3, and formed with an inwardly tapered throat 4, short longitudinal ribs or like devices 5 being formed upon certain of the opposed side walls of the casing, whereby to facilitate engagement of the same by the iingers of a user. The opposite end of the casing 1 is open, as indicated at 6, providing a pocket or recess, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully described. The rib 5 carrying end walls of the casing are formed with internal curved shoulders "T adjacent fied form ofscraping head l:for scratcher element; Y

the open end 6 thereof, and said portions of the end walls are also provided with substantially U- shaped cut-away portions 8, preferably centered with respect to the curved internal shoulders '7.

A substantially cross-sectionally U-shaped trough 9, made from sheet metal is provided the device, the length thereof lbeing such that the same is adapted to have nesting-like engagement in the open portion or pocket 6 of the casing 1. Downwardly extending and substantially rightangularly disposed lips 10 are integrally formed with the opposite sides of the trough 9, as is shown in the Figures 3 and 9, said lips extending throughout the entire length of their respective sides of the trough 9 and having their opposite ends shouldered, as at l1. In this connection, it is to be noted that the lips 10 are so arranged upon ing. Also, it will be noted that thereduced or normally inner portions of the lips 10, i. e., those portions inwardly of the shoulders l1, will be arranged in substantially abutting engagement with respect to the corresponding portions of the inner surfaces of the adjacent side walls of the casing. hence, insuring a firm engagement of the trough 9 in the pocket 6. In order that a permanent or fixed connection will be established as between the trough 9 and the pocketed end of the casing 1, I may, and preferably do apply a cement or sirnilar material to portions of the outer surfaces of the lips 10, as indicated by the numeral 12, in

Figure 9. Obviously, when the cement hardensf;

' now engaged -in the retaining sleeve` 19 1n the` 1 The major or sets, it will effect a bonding medium between `the inner sides of the engaged side walls ofthe casing 1 and said lips 10.

The trough 9, when in nested engagement with the pocketed portion 6 of the casing 1, is eitherv A length of sparking material, shown in the present embodiment asv being of cross-sectionally circular shape, indicated by the numeral1 13, is laid in the trough 9, as shown in theFigures 1, 5 and 9, being secured in fixed relation to the trough by a cement or other bonding agent 14, applied as is illustrated in the Figures 5 and 9.' By reason of the cross-sectional shape and relative size of the length of sparking material 13, it will be particularly noted that longitudinally disposed ways 15 are constituted between the opposite sides of said sparking material and the adjacent portions of the sides of the trough 9.

Pieces of absorbent material, such as felt or the like, designated by the numeral 16, are arranged within the casing 1, as is shown in the Figure 5, the relatively inner sides of said pieces being diagonally cut, asindicated at 17, whereby to provide an intermediate way or channel therebetween, into which the torch hereinafter more ful.-

ly described, is adapted to pass, in substantially the fashion as is indicated in Figure 5. It will be seen that displacement of the absorbent pieces 16 with respect to the casing 1 will be prevented by the nesting-like engagement of the trough 9 in the open end 6 of the casing 1, whereas the opposite ends of these absorbent pieces will be engaged in the pockets formed in the opposite end of the casing between the ends of the thickened part 3 of the casing end wall and the corresponding portions of the rib 5 carrying side walls thereof, such pockets being herein indicated for con- Hretained in substantially fixed relation to the interior of they casing 1; consequently, that the torch receiving way provided therebetween will be insured.

A torch isprovided the improved igniting device, comprising a single piece of metal or other suitable material, formed on one end with a cuplike element or retaining sleeve 19, the inner end thereof having a constricted neck 2,0 extending from the same, the outer end of which isI provided with an annular inwardly tapered collar 21, said collar, in turn, having an inwardly tapered knob or finger engaging piece 22 upon its outer or free side, preferably knurled, as at 23. I

The normally outer end of therod 24 which constitutes the scratcher element of the torch, is extended for a distance beyondthe retaining sleeve 19, as is shown in the Figures 5 and 11, and carries upon itsv extremity a headed portion or scraping head 25. Engaged or snugly wound about an intermediate portion of the scratching element 24 is a length of wick material, consisting of a flexible Wire core 26, having asbestos yarn ci the like 27 engaged thereabout. yIn this connection, it will be noted that a portion ofthe wick material engaged about the scratcher element 24 .extends to a point in proximity to the scraping head 25 thereof. The thus constituted torch is fashion as illustrated in Figure 11. portion of the wick material, aforesaid, vis snugly engaged in the retaining sleeve and the innerA end of the scratcher element 24 is extended into or re- `1 ceived by the constricted neck 20.

A portionH of the neck 2O is now indented, asat 28, by the use of a punch or like device, hence, securely locking the scratcher element 24 inthe torch.

the torch will be juxtapositioned with respect to a party of the absorbent material 16. Furthermore, it will be noted that the annular inwardly tapered collar 21 will have a slightly binding-like 'seating engagement within the outer rend of the In this position, itr

inwardly tapered throat 4, in the fashion illus-"- vtrated in the Figures 2, 4, and 5, thus effectually ignating the modified form of scratching element by the numeral 24. The free end of the scratcher element 24 is headed, as at 29.. A sleeve 30, made vof high speed steel or the like is engaged upon the extended end of the element 24 in abutting-j relation to the headed free end thereof. The outer end of the sleeve 30 is flanged or otherwise formed to constitute a scraper head, so that when it is drawn over the sparking material with which the igniting device is equipped, the necessary sparks will be effectively produced. Through the medium of this modified form of construction of the scratcher element, it will be understood that the body of the scratcher element may be constructed of iron or low carbon steel, whereas the sleeve 30 thereof, as stated, is constructed of high speed or similar steel, thus effecting a material saving in manufacturing costs without sacricing the igniting eiciency of the torch.

In using my improved igniting device, a suitable character of combustible liquid is introduced into the casing and absorbed by the pieces 16. The torch holder and torch are now inserted into the casing in the fashion illustrated in the Figure 5. 'Ihe combustible fuel saturated pieces 16 contacting with the exposed portions of the wick material aforesaid, will sufciently saturate the same so as to render it combustible. To ignite the torch, it is withdrawn from the casing by engaging the knurled portion 23 of the tapered knob 22 and withdrawing the holder longitudinally from the casing by way of the inwardly tapered throat 4.. At this time, the casing 1 is grasped in one of the hands of a user in such a manner that the scraping head upon the scratcher element 24 may be engaged with one side of the sparking material 13 in the manner shown in the Figure 9, i. e., adjacent one of the longitudinal ways 15. The scraping head is now drawn firmly over the sparking material 13 through the engaged longitudinal way 15 and in so doing, sparks will be produced and the combustible fuel saturated wick portion of the torch will be ignited, and may be burned until the user desires to extinguish the flame. In this connection, I invite particular attention to the fact that lateral movement of the scratcher element during an igniting of the torch of the device and as the same is drawn over the sparking element 13, will be positively prevented by reason of the fact that the scraping head will be engaged in one of the longitudinal ways 15 Iprovided between the opposite sides of thesparking material and the adjacent sides of the trough 9. In this way, the lighting efficiency of the igniting device will be materially enhanced; furthermore, accidental displacement of the scratcher ,element from the sparking material 13 with resulting inconvenience or impairment of the igniting efliciency of the device will be avoided.

At this point, I also invite attention to the fact that by reason of the inwardly tapered formation of the knob 22 of the torch holder, a minimum transmittal of heat from the torch, when burning, to said knob will be eifected, hence, allowing said knob to be grasped in the ngers of a users hand without danger of burning them.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification, and such modification as is within the spirit of my claims, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In an igniting device, a casing, a torch removably engageable in one end of the casing, the opposite end of the casing being open, portions of the casing adjacent its open end being formed with internal shoulders, a trough snugly received in the open end of the casing completely closing the same and bearing, at its opposite ends, upon said internal shoulders, outwardly movable lips carried adjacent the opposite sides of said trough extending longitudinally thereof, said lips being adapted to have binding contact with adjacent portions of the casing walls upon engagement of the trough in its open end whereby to lock the trough in fixed relation to the casing, and sparking material in the trough.

2. In an igniting device, a casing having a torch removably engaged in one portion thereof, another portion of the casing being open and internally shouldered, a trough received in said open portion of the casing having its opposite ends seated upon said internal shoulders, portions of the opposite sides of the trough being in binding engagement with adjacent portions of the casing, and sparking material in the trough.

3. In an igniting device, a casing, a torch removably engaged in one portion thereof, another portion of said casing being open and formed upon its opposite ends with internal shoulders, a trough constructed of spring material carrying lips upon its opposite side walls in substantial parallelism to each other, said trough and lips being engaged in and closing said open end of the casing, the opposite ends of the trough being seated on said internal shoulders and the lips having binding engagement with adjacent portions of the casing, and sparking material in the trough.

4. In a casing of the character described having one of its ends open, portions of said open end 1W) being formed with internal shoulders, a trough snugly received in the open end of the casing completely closing the same and bearing, at its opposite ends, upon said internal shoulders, and inwardly disposed outwardly movable lips integral with the opposite sides of the trough extending longitudinally thereof, said lips being in binding engagement with adjacent portions of the casing walls.

JOSEPH RENE' AYoTrE. 130 

